Today at the Microsoft Connection Days in Switzerland, Microsoft announced the winners of the Swiss Microsoft Partner of the Year awards. itnetX the was finalist in the category Cloud Platform. Some hours ago I got the happy message that we won the Microsoft Partner of the Year – Cloud Platform award. This is great news and it is the fifth time in a row itnetX won the Microsoft Partner of the Year award.

Microsoft Partner of the Year 2011 – Datacenter (itnetX)

Microsoft Partner of the Year 2012 – Datacenter (itnetX)

Microsoft Partner of the Year 2013 – Datacenter (itnetX)

Microsoft Partner of the Year 2014 – Datacenter (Syliance IT Services, since merged with itnetX)

Microsoft Partner of the Year 2015 – Cloud Platform (itnetX)

The Swiss IT consulting and engineering company itnetX, is focused on Microsoft Cloud and Workplace solutions based on Microsoft System Center, Windows Server an Microsoft Azure. I am proud we could win this award for the fifth time, and to work with highly focused and qualified team, which maybe works at one of the best workplaces in Switzerland to deliver first-class Microsoft cloud solutions to our customers.

If you try to host some IaaS workloads or build a Hybrid Cloud environment connected to a service provider in Switzerland, you probably want to check out the Green Hyper-V ServerCloud.

Based on Hyper-V technology from Windows Server 2012 R2, Green virtual servers provide you with a powerful, high-availability server platform for your applications. The virtual servers can be seamlessly integrated into your existing IT environment, using Site-2-Site VPN.

Green also offers a own image container function in Windows Azure Pack which allows you to quickly and smoothly migrate your server to the Hyper-V ServerCloud, including configuration and software. Install your VHDX and ISO images and save valuable time on reinstallation and setup.

Options and the ability to gradually expand the system pave the way for future expansion. From individual applications to virtualization of entire IT areas, Server Cloud offers enough scope for your business.

Some of the cool stuff Green offers in there Cloud Solution:

Cloud based on Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V and Windows Azure Pack

Powerful packages on virtual server with up to 16 CPU cores and 128GB RAM

Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012 R2 Images

Linux Images (CentOS and more…)

Bring your own Server and ISO Images

Create VM Checkpoint (Snapshots) right from the Tenant Portal

Seamless expansion of local infrastructure through network virtualization and free-of-charge site-to-site VPN

Green Business Connectivity and Security

Green is using it own datacenter to host the Green Cloud. The GreenCloud is hosted in their Tier 4 and Tier 3 datacenters for maximal security. The newest green.ch data center offers all the benefits of a state-of-the-art data center. It is situated in an excellent location, is the only Swiss data center that was awarded a Tier 4 design certification, and was designed for energy-efficient operation.

The Lupfig site is located west of Zurich in an easy to access location. It is far away from hazardous zones, yet centrally located within the Zurich-Basel-Bern business triangle.

From the very beginning, greenDatacenter Zurich West was designed for highest availability. All systems required for operation are duplicated. Multiple feeds are used for the power and emergency power supply, and the connection to the data network. And these feeds are even separately routed within the data center. Four security perimeters protect the data center against unauthorized access. Security measures include biometric access systems.

The Swiss Federal Office of Energy awarded greenDatacenter Zurich West the Watt d’Or 2013 for exemplary energy efficiency in the buildings and space category.

Green Cloud Technology

As already mentioned Green is using the Microsoft Cloud Platform stack with Windows Azure Pack and Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V for their Cloud offering. By using Hyper-V Network Virtualization and Site-2-Site VPN, customers can easily connect their local networks to the Green Cloud and build a Hybrid Cloud scenario. Green also extended their offering beyond the standard WAP offerings by adding additional features such as Hyper-V Replica support, the option to create Checkpoints (Snapshots) of Virtual Machines and the possibility to bring your own server images and ISO images to the Green Cloud.

Today it’s not only valentines day, it’s also the day where the Microsoft Surface RT comes available in more countries includes Switzerland. And for this Microsoft made a small event for the Microsoft Surface Launch in Switzerland.

The Surface is available in Switzerland via the Microsoft Online Store and some retail stores like Media Markt. And with the launch in Switzerland you can also get the Type Cover and the Touch Cover with a Swiss keyboard layout.

Today the Swiss IT consulting and engineering company itnetx gmbh, focused on Microsoft Private Cloud solutions based on Microsoft System Center and Microsoft Hyper-V, received the Microsoft Partner of the Year Award 2012 in the category Datacenter. This is the second time in a row itnetx was awarded by Microsoft as Partner of the Year. In 2011 itnetx also won the Microsoft Partner of the Year Award in the category Datacenter.

It’s great to be a part of itnetx team and well it feels great to if your hard and innovation driven work gets awarded by Microsoft.

Today I had the chance to visit Microsoft Switzerland. I visited one of the presentations called “Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 – What’s new?”. Speaker of the session was Markus Erlacher (Microsoft IT Consultant). As always Microsoft does a great job by host events like this.

I really recommend you to visit one of the next events (you can find them on the swiss TechNet Homepage). The will host this session “Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 – What’s new?” again in november.

So what is new in Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1? Basically there are alot of hotfixes and two main things in Windows Server 2008 R2.

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About

My name is Thomas Maurer. I am a Senior Cloud Advocate at Microsoft. I am part of the Azure engineering team and engage with the community and customers around the world. I am located in Switzerland. I am focusing on Microsoft technologies, especially cloud and datacenter solutions based on Microsoft Azure, Azure Stack and Windows Server. Opinions are my own.